Izzy (Amy Irving) is a 33-year-old single woman who lives in a rent-controlled apartment on New York City's Upper West Side. She has a fulfilling job at New Day Books handling a prestigious series where famous authors read from their works. And on a regular basis, she maintains family ties by visiting her grandmother (Reizl Bozyk) at her apartment downtown. Although Izzy is happy, her grandmother wants her to marry a nice Jewish man and settle down. Through a matchmaker (Sylvia Miles), she arranges for Izzy to meet Sam (Peter Reigert), the owner of a pickle store on the Lower East Side. Convinced that they live in two very different worlds, Izzy patronizes him. Despite her snobbery, Sam is smitten by this young woman and he patiently romances her. Meanwhile, she throws herself at Anton Maes (Jeroen Krabbe), an arrogant European novelist.
Susan Sandler's romantic comedy is based on her 1985 play. Director Joan Micklin Silver makes Crossing Delancey sparkle in all the right places. Amy Irving is just right as Izzy, a conflicted young working woman who doesn't quite know how to handle her romantic feelings. Peter Riegert gives his best screen performance since Local Hero as the kindly, firm, generous, and loving pickle merchant. Crossing Delancey speaks softly but delivers some provocative observations on sexual politics, family pressures, loneliness, single life, love, and romantic fantasies.
